When I was 12 in the Sixties, and getting my first deer rifle, my dad bought a very used mil surplus from Big 5 for dirt cheap. It was a laContessora, leContassoura or something similar. It was supposed to be a French Foreign Legion from the early 1900's. Or maybe that was just the model year: 1907 or 1909. It was a 7 or 9mm. with a cartridge the size of a carrot. It was wood all the way to the front sight and looong. We tied it to a tree and pulled the trigger with a rope the first time we fired it, in case it exploded. It had seen some very hard use. I used it a few times before trading up to a .303Enfield MK4.
Can anyone ID what I'm talking about? Just the right name will get on track.

batjka

10-22-2012 10:23 AM

Was it a bolt action? Magazine fed? Single shot? Some more info, please.

batjka

10-22-2012 10:27 AM

The only thing that comes to mind would be a La Coruna Spanish Mauset in 7mm. Hope this helps.

When I was 12 in the Sixties, and getting my first deer rifle, my dad bought a very used mil surplus from Big 5 for dirt cheap. It was a laContessora, leContassoura or something similar. It was supposed to be a French Foreign Legion from the early 1900's. Or maybe that was just the model year: 1907 or 1909. It was a 7 or 9mm. with a cartridge the size of a carrot. It was wood all the way to the front sight and looong. We tied it to a tree and pulled the trigger with a rope the first time we fired it, in case it exploded. It had seen some very hard use. I used it a few times before trading up to a .303Enfield MK4.
Can anyone ID what I'm talking about? Just the right name will get on track.

Cartridge the sixe of a carrot:D That cracks me up!

303tom

10-22-2012 01:36 PM

My first rifle was a Model 1890 Winchester .22, My first deer rifle was a Enfield No4, My first shotgun was a H&R single barrel 20 gauge & I still have all three of them................

winds-of-change

10-22-2012 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solon
(Post 985370)

We tied it to a tree and pulled the trigger with a rope the first time we fired it, in case it exploded.

I find this funny and very creative all at the same time. :)

Solon

10-22-2012 07:20 PM

More info.

Quote:

Originally Posted by batjka
(Post 985410)

Was it a bolt action? Magazine fed? Single shot? Some more info, please.

I'm a little hazy after nearly fifty years, but it definitely wasn't any variety of Mauser. It was bolt action and I think the magazine was internal. The barrel engravings were in French not Spanish, and some variant of "le Contessura." Big 5 Sporting Goods literally had them by the barrel full for $69.95 or some ridiculously cheap price. I remember the cartridge so well because I was used to the slim 30-06 my dad and uncles used. I think the rear of the case was the size of a quarter, but that just may be the twelve year old thinking. It had flip up rear sights like a ladder. I think it was meant for picking off your target at a 1000yds across the dunes. Ammunition was expensive and hard to find. I doubt I put fifty rounds thru it before I got my .303 Enfield Mk4. It had already been Sportserized with a new stock and scope. I thought it was the best rifle ever made.

I'm about 95% certain it wasn't a Mauser clone. The wood went almost to the front sight blade. There was no rod below the barrel, or mine was missing when we bought it. I doubt that, because I remember Dad picking and choosing to get the one in the best shape. There was a built in compartment in the buttplate which I think held a cleaning kit at one time.